INDIANAPOLIS – The marathon match between Butler and #14 Creighton ended with the Bluejays coming out on top 3-2 (21-25, 38-36, 25-19, 25-27, 15-11). Each Butler senior ended the match with a double-double performance, but the nationally-ranked Bluejays would use 7-0 scoring run in the fifth set to notch their 22nd win of the season. The setback moves Butler to 21-7.
 
The Butler Athletic Department recognized Makayla Ferguson and Whitney Beck before the match for Senior Day. Ferguson ended the day with a season-high 60 assists and 12 digs while Beck recorded 15 kills and 17 digs.
 
Joining Ferguson and Beck with a double-double performance was outside hitter Anna Logan. She led all players with 17 kills and 17 digs. BU also got a lift offensively from Bri Lilly who posted 16 kills.
 
Creighton was led by Jaali Winters with 16 kills and 16 digs. Lydia Dimke was also a huge factor in the outcome with 61 assists, 18 digs and seven kills. The Bluejays hit .283 as a team. Marysa Wilkinson and Megan Ballenger also reached a double figure kill total to help defeat Butler.
 
Butler set the tempo in the first set by claiming a 25-21 win. They broke a 21-21 tie to score the final four points of the opener and therefore grabbed the 1-0 lead.
 
The two evenly matched teams went above and beyond expectations in the second set. Neither team would flinch at 25-25 as the conference foes moved into extra points. The scoreboard moved all the way to 36-36 before the Bluejays would move forward.
 
Bri Lilly tried to find some room in the back left corner of the court, but her attempt missed long to give CU the one-point lead at 37-36. The set would go to Creighton on the next serve as Ferguson's attempt to beat the Bluejay defense up the middle hit the net and moved to the floor.
 
Creighton not only tied the set at 1-1, but they were able to steal the momentum Butler had built up from Senior Day and winning the first set. The third set would feature a slow BU start as Creighton jumped out to a 5-1 lead. The Bulldogs would never lead in the third as Creighton moved up 2-1 with a 25-19 win.
 
A second slow start would follow in the fourth set, but the Bulldogs would fight back to knot the score at 9-9. Neither team would be able to pull away as the scoreboard read 25-25 in crunch time. Bri Lilly would come up huge by recording back-to-back kills which kept Butler alive for a fifth and final set.
 
The final set of the day started off with back-and-forth action, but a 7-0 scoring run would push Creighton on top 11-6. The five-point cushion was too much to overcome giving Creighton the 3-2 win.
 
Butler will return to action next weekend with games against Seton Hall and St. John's. The match against Seton Hall on Nov. 17 will stream on BEDN at 7 PM. Saturday's tilt against the Red Storm will begin at 5 PM.